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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1159
  
Location: alabama | Does anyone feed a grain free diet? pros/ cons??? If you can meet the vitamin an mineral balance for them it seems like a much better option?? |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
  
Location: Alberta | I think each individual situation is different due to needs of horses and location (availability of forage type)
For the most part we don't feed grain, we have young horses to my competition horses that don't get it. We are fortunate to have access to high quality forage and grass we've never found a huge need....BUT in the winter we do feed our geriatric horses a extruded feed type (flax based) to help them keep weight on and energy to keep warm. A horses diet should be at the minimum 70 % forage, race horses it can fall to the 50 % mark but like I said different situations call for different feed stuff requirements.
Edited by dream_chaser 2015-09-04 7:49 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1159
Location: alabama | dream_chaser - 2015-09-04 6:45 PM
I think each individual situation is different due to needs of horses and location (availability of forage type)
For the most part we don't feed grain, we have young horses to my competition horses that don't get it. We are fortunate to have access to high quality forage and grass we've never found a huge need....BUT in the winter we do feed our geriatric horses a extruded feed type (flax based) to help them keep weight on and energy to keep warm. A horses diet should be at the minimum 70 % forage, race horses it can fall to the 50 % mark but like I said different situations call for different feed stuff requirements.
Do u feed a supplement for vitamins and minerals? |
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Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | smcmil - 2015-09-04 7:39 PM dream_chaser - 2015-09-04 6:45 PM I think each individual situation is different due to needs of horses and location (availability of forage type)
For the most part we don't feed grain, we have young horses to my competition horses that don't get it. We are fortunate to have access to high quality forage and grass we've never found a huge need....BUT in the winter we do feed our geriatric horses a extruded feed type (flax based) to help them keep weight on and energy to keep warm. A horses diet should be at the minimum 70 % forage, race horses it can fall to the 50 % mark but like I said different situations call for different feed stuff requirements.
Do u feed a supplement for vitamins and minerals?
Yes they have a free choice mineral block. |
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Veteran
Posts: 197
| I don't feed grain. I feed good alfafa mix hay, plenty of it, pasture about 8-12 hrs., and keep loose mineral and salt out free choice. The horses that I run barrels on, or use harder do get a fat supplement that is 4-8 oz. (depending on horse) of a mix of flax, coconut, chia. If my hay is not that great, I may supplement with alfalfa pellets. |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
| I use a bagged product (Legends Carbcare Performance, pelleted) very minimally so I can add a vitamin/mineral supplement and fats. I sure wish there was a better bagged products available here to use, but at 1# per day on average I don't feel any of my guys are going to have any issues. I rely on top quality alfalfa and a really nice timothy to provide the majority of calories and nutrients. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | I feed alfalfa, Bermuda and 1/2 lb Renew Gold.
i feel that the alfalfa is key....my horse looks great. At least I think so! |
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Expert
Posts: 1695
Location: Willows, CA | hammer_time - 2015-09-05 11:37 AM
I feed alfalfa, Bermuda and 1/2 lb Renew Gold.
i feel that the alfalfa is key....my horse looks great. At least I think so!
You are right about alfalfa with a grass hay program. Grass hays are fast through the hind gut. Alfalfa slows the hind gut some, allowing more time for more complete digestion of the grass type hays. Here a prebiotic can also help, along with proper teeth care so the grass hay is well chewed. The Renew Gold provides the prebiotic and a nice balance of easily digested energy, vitamins and minerals. This is a very nice program for many horses. |
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Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | winwillows - 2015-09-05 12:01 PM
hammer_time - 2015-09-05 11:37 AM
I feed alfalfa, Bermuda and 1/2 lb Renew Gold.
i feel that the alfalfa is key....my horse looks great. At least I think so!
You are right about alfalfa with a grass hay program. Grass hays are fast through the hind gut. Alfalfa slows the hind gut some, allowing more time for more complete digestion of the grass type hays. Here a prebiotic can also help, along with proper teeth care so the grass hay is well chewed. The Renew Gold provides the prebiotic and a nice balance of easily digested energy, vitamins and minerals. This is a very nice program for many horses.
I definitely like his demeanor now while under saddle, and I treat the bermuda as more of a "filler" and something to keep him "grazing" throughout the day. I know he definitely prefers the alfalfa anyways!!! |
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | I feed some just grass pasture and/or grass hay free choice. My son's new horse gets soaked alfalfa/beet pellets so I can give him his THE Performance Formula for vitamins & minerals etc. He's so hugely overweight, but has been ran in pasture without anything but that pasture for a couple yrs. I believe he also has IR so he will be kept in off pasture in the spring. |
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Grain free diet